Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to retain specialist staff in the space research and development sector.

The UK Space Agency, as part of DSIT, supports the retention of specialist staff in the space research and development sector through programme funding and enabling long-term international collaborations, including participation in ESA programmes and with other space agencies around the world. This attracts, trains and provides continuity of employment for highly skilled teams across academia and industry, helping to sustain specialist scientific and engineering roles and maintaining critical capabilities within UK R&D teams. In addition, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supports space-related scientific research and skills across UK universities and research organisations. The Government's wider approach to supporting and nurturing growth and capability development in the sector is set out in the Space Industrial Plan.